Dombrowski Plays Down Bullpen Need

Dombrowski Plays Down Bullpen Need

Boston Red Sox Team President Dave Dombrowski Plays Down Need For Bullpen Help In Press Conference

One apparent area of need for the Boston Red Sox is adding a late inning reliever.

But according to Team President Dave Dombrowski, the need for a setup type of reliever is over rated by fans.

Dombrowski explained as much in a press conference ahead of Friday nights game against the New York Yankees.

“Well, I mean, I was having a conversation with somebody the other day,” Dombrowski said. “Actually, I’ll tell you, we were sitting there on Monday, no Tuesday. My parents are in town. So, they’re sitting there and my dad’s a big baseball fan, he follows us, and he said, ‘Gosh, it looks like you really need a setup guy, right?’ And I said, ‘I’m not sure why we need a setup man.’ I said, ‘Dad, Joe Kelly hasn’t given up a run in 2 1/2 months. It’s the first run he’s given up in 2 1/2 months, and now all of a sudden, we need a setup guy.’ Again, can you get better? Yes. I don’t think it’s a glaring need for us. I think we’ll keep an open mind again.

“For example, I don’t think we’re going to get starting pitching. I think our starting pitching is set. There’s a couple of other places that you could be open-minded to, but I don’t feel it’s a glaring need in the sense that we do have, I think it’s the second-best bullpen in the American League. Kelly’s thrown well, Barnes has thrown well. We need a little more consistency from him. And [Heath] Hembree’s done a good job. Again, I think it’s an area to keep an open mind to.”

While he doesn’t see the bullpen as a glaring need, he certainly has an “open mind” to it as the July 31st MLB trade deadline approaches. But as Dombrowski says, the Boston Red Sox bullpen has been one of the best in baseball this season.

The bullpen has an ERA of 3.08, second-best in the AL and third-best in the majors. One of the issues with the bullpen is betting on Joe Kely and Heath Hembree continuing their overall first half success going forward. But for the Boston Red Sox, they have several options from within.

Carson Smith is still working his way back from Tommy John Surgery and could throw off a mound within the next week. While he isn’t one to be relied on after such a long time off, he is an option for Boston. Other options in the organization include Brandon Workman.

This season Workman owns a 3.38 ERA in 2 appearances for the Red Sox with 5.1 IP. But with Workman, the idea is recapturing his success from the 2013 playoffs. A World Series run that saw the then rookie throw 8.2 IP over 7 games giving up 7 hits and zero earned runs. Workman suffered an elbow injury and his career was derailed by undergoing Tommy John Surgery in June of 2015. He was out for over a year with the right-handed reliever only starting his rehab assignment on July 5th, 2016.

Other than two appearances this season for Boston, Workman has been delegated to pitch for the Pawtucket Red Sox. Down in Triple-A he has done his job pitching 29 innings while striking out 35 batters and possessing a 1.55 ERA.

For Workman, the waiting game has become increasingly frustrated, with the trade deadline on July 31st, the time for Workman to get a real look is now. If Boston decides that from within is not an option, the trade market for them seems to be All-Star Pat Neshek.

Tanner founded Trifecta Network in Spring of 2016 and has been the Chief of Content for the Network since that time. Currently Tanner covers all the sports teams in Boston and has contacts in many of the teams in the city. Before starting Trifecta, Tanner was a Site Expert for the FanSided site Chowder and Champions before leaving to cover Boston teams on the ground as a member of the media for Trifecta.

“It is tough here,’’ Price tells USA TODAY. “There’s just so much more negativity. I’ve never been one for negative stuff. I like surrounding myself by positive people. Even if my wife starts talking negatively, I let her know. I just can’t stand it.

Price claims there is an incredible amount of negativity surrounding Boston. Well, maybe just negativity surrounding him. The 217 million dollar man has been the target of much criticism but all of it is justified and has absolutely nothing to do with his price tag. Fans could care less about how much money a player makes since it is not actually their money. Price getting bashed by fans and members of the media also has nothing to do with his performance on the field. It all stems from him being a big baby and blowing up on Dennis Eckersley on the team plane last year. If Price hadn’t done that no one would care, because lets’ face it, Boston is no longer a tough baseball town.

But hey maybe we are all experiencing a different Boston, a different Fenway Park. A Fenway park where David Ortiz gets booed.

“Oh, yeah, he’ll get booed,’’ Price laughs. “I told J.D. he will love the guys here in this clubhouse but also told him he’ll get booed. He’s a quiet, soft-spoken guy, but he’ll handle it. Besides, everyone gets booed. I heard Big Papi (David Ortiz) get booed many times in Fenway.”

Yes, that is a real quote. That statement alone deserves vicious boos from the Fenway Faithful. When was Ortiz ever booed “many times” at Fenway Park during Prices time in baseball? Even when Terry Francona almost benched the slugger fans were still chanting Papi, Papi.

No shot in hell.

Price making that comment to Nightengale is just a shameful attempt to garner national support for him as he attempts to pitch his way out of a contract he should have never signed. Price blames Boston and the fans instead of himself. He signed the contract, no one forced him to do so. Instead, he has taken shots at the city, the fan base, and the organization. Funny thing is if Price goes out and pitches halfway decent there is no shot he gets booed at Fenway Park this season.

Most of the fans that visit Fenway have no idea who half of the players are and will cheer for anything that walks up to the plate. Boston is no longer a tough baseball town, but don’t tell that to Nightengale.

Now it’s J.D. Martinez’s turn to experience baseball’s toughest environment, where perfection is demanded, nothing less than a World Series championship is good enough and, as Price can attest, where things can get awfully ugly in a hurry.

Welcome to Boston.

You’ve been warned. -Nightengale

Baseball’s toughest environment?

I think not.

The biggest newspaper in town, the Boston Globe, is in John Henry‘s garage. And then one of the biggest sports tv stations is also under team ownership.

Tough?

I think not, more like soft as butter.

Now a direct message to J.D. Martinez: Just don’t be an a-hole like Price and you will be fine. Hit .240 or .320, it literally doesn’t matter in Boston.

Boston Red Sox Spring Training TV And Radio Broadcast Information

The Boston Red Sox announced on Tuesday their 2018 Spring Training broadcast schedule.

Of the Red Sox’ 35 exhibition games this spring, 14 will be televised by NESN in the Boston TV market on either the main channel or their NESNplus feed.

In addition to the 14 NESN games, a partnership between them and Boston 25 will bring an additional six games to be broadcasted on Boston 25 in the City of Boston and on NESN throughout the rest of New England.

In terms of radio, the Red Sox Radio network continues to be WEEI which will carry 31 spring training games. There will be three national games on the Spring Training schedule with MLB Network carrying the March 2nd game and ESPN carrying both the March 23rd game and the March 27th game.

Below is the full Boston Red Sox spring training broadcast schedule for 2018

Red Sox Trade Bryce Brentz To The Pittsburgh Pirates

Red Sox Trade OF Bryce Brentz To The Pittsburgh Pirates

The Red Sox have announced that they have traded outfielder Bryce Brentz to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations. This creates a spot for newly signed JD Martinez on the 40 man roster, and ultimately the opening day 25 man roster.

Last season for the Pawtucket Red Sox, Bryce Brentz hit .271 with 31 home runs and 85 RBI’s. Those 31 home runs was the most out of any player in the Red Sox organization. However his fielding was okay at best.

This season, Bryce Brentz was on track to be the number 4 outfielder for the Boston Red Sox. But with the acquisition of JD Martinez, this would force Bryce Brentz off the opening day roster. Since Bryce Brentz no longer has anymore options, this trade makes sure that the Red Sox get something out of getting rid of him. Otherwise the Red Sox would have just designated him for assignment.

Bryce Brentz Highlights

Here are some of the highlights from last season for Bryce Brentz.

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